Online gambling heavyweights GoldenPalace.com and Paddy Power have entered into a bidding war for a tree stump. Yes, a tree stump.
It started when Canadian based online casino GoldenPalace.com offered CAD$5,000 for the Rathkeale, Co Limerick, tree stump. The stump is said to contain an image of the Virgin Mary and we all know GoldenPalace's fondness for holy knock knacks. A few years back they bought a piece burnt toast which bore the Madonna's image, and they also own Pope Benedict's old VW Golf.
When Irish based bookmaker Paddy Power caught wind of the bid they weren't happy with a sacred Irish tree stump joining GoldenPalace's circus of religious relics and put in a big of their own. They have put an offer of EUR 6,200 to Rathkeale parish priest, Canon Joseph Dempsey which is open until August.
"We don't want to see our holy tree stump paraded around the world in some kind of carnival of the bizarre alongside a mouldy slice of toast. If we are successful with our bid we will endeavour to preserve the tree stump and make it accessible for all those who choose to visit it. You can bet on it" said Paddy Power.
It's nice to see Paddy Power trying to protect the sanctity of religious symbolism. Incidentally, they did also say that they are still taking bets on where the next sighting of the Blessed Virgin in Ireland will be.
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